Indianapolis 500 | Jay Howard turns surprisingly fast practice lap

INDIANAPOLIS — Another upset could be brewing in the competition this weekend for the pole position of the Indianapolis 500, if Jay Howard’s best lap Thursday on a hot afternoon is any indication.

The Englishman topped the speed chart with a 226.744 mph lap, and he did it in a Honda-powered car prepped by Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. Owned principally by Sam Schmidt, the team sent James Hinchcliffe to the pole last year ahead of the entries from the big-budget Team Penske, Andretti Autosport and Chip Ganassi Racing.

“I’m feeling really good, really confident,” said Howard, whose only previous start at Indy was for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in 2011 when he finished 30th. “We all just hope this keeps going. It’s kind of like a dream right now; I hope I don’t wake up.”

Honda-powered Graham Rahal, a New Albany native, had the third-fastest lap turned without a tow, which means not running in another car’s draft, at 224.351 mph. Michael Shank’s Pataskala-based team saw its Honda-powered rookie driver Jack Harvey turn 92 laps, the best at 221.279 mph. That was just behind Stockdale rookie Zach Veach’s 222.463 in an A.J. Foyt Racing Chevy-powered car.

Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden, fifth fastest on the day, suffered the only crash, losing control exiting turn one in the early afternoon. He climbed from the car and limped away, was later checked at the infield medical facility and cleared to drive.

Headed toward the start of qualifying Saturday, the final full day of practice Friday will see the drivers be dealt added turbocharger boost that is allowed only for qualifying. Speeds for the contenders are expected to be in the 230 range.